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muÌ‚r´t'l (הדס, hădhasÌ£; μυÏσιÌνη, mursıÌneÌ„ (; ; ; , ); also as a name in Hadassah in , the Jewish form of ESTHER (which see)): The myrtle, Myrtus communis (Natural Order Myrtaceae), is a very common indigenous shrub all over Palestine On the bare hillsides it is a low bush, but under favorable conditions of moisture it attains a considerable height (compare , ). It has dark green, scented leaves, delicate starry white flowers and dark-colored berries, which are eaten. In ancient times it was sacred to Astarte. It is mentioned as one of the choice plants of the land . “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree†, is one of the prophetic pictures of God's promised blessings. It was one of the trees used in the Feast of Tabernacles : “the branches of thick trees†(which see) are interpreted in the Talmud (SÌ£uk. ; Yer SÌ£uk. 3, 53rd) as myrtle boughs; also (id) the “thick trees†of as “wild myrtle.†Myrtle twigs, particularly those of the broadleaved variety, together with a palm branch and twigs of willow, are still used in the ritual of the Feast of Tabernacles. For many references to myrtle in Jewish writings see Jewish Encyclopedia, IX, 137.